Childproof actuator assembly

ABSTRACT

An actuator button is mounted in a housing to form an actuator assembly which is secured to a valved aerosol or other container. The actuator button is rotatable between non-dispensing and dispensing positions. With the actuator button in the nondispensing position, cooperable portions of the actuator assembly form a locking means to positively prevent rotational movement of the actuator button and, simultaneously, blocking means prevent operation of the dispensing valve. While the locking means is disabled by disengaging the cooperable portions, the actuator button is simultaneously rotated free of the blocking means into the dispensing position for dispensing product from the container by operation of the valve as by depressing or tilting the actuator button. Limiting means restricts relative movement of the cooperable portions of the locking means to prevent permanent deformation thereof. A breakaway tab prevents disabling the locking means until the tab is removed. The actuator assembly is shaped to conceal the locking means to further prevent accidental operation of the valve by children. An alternative embodiment is adapted for use on large diameter containers.

O United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,848,778 Meshberg Nov. 19, 1974CHILDPROOF ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY [76] Inventor: Philip Meshberg, 85 Old OakRd., ABSTRACT palrfield Conn 06604 An actuator button is mounted in ahousing to form an [22] Filed: Aug. 14, 1972 actuator assembly which issecured to a valved aerosol or other container. The actuator button isrotatable [21] Appl 280432 between non-dispensing and dispensingpositions.

With the actuator button in the non-dispensing posi- [52] US. Cl.222/402.11 tion, cooperable portions of the actuator assembly 51 Int. ClB65d 83/14 form a locking means to positively prevent rotational [58]Field of Search 215/9; 222/182, 341 4021 1 movement of the actuatorbutton and, simultaneously, 222/549, 402.12, 402.13, 402.22, 153,blocking means prevent operation of the dispensing 533-536; 221/152;24/255 5L valve. While the locking means is disabled by disengaging thecooperable portions, the actuator button is [56] References Citedsimultaneously rotated free of the blocking means into UNITED STATESPATENTS the dispensing position for dispensing product from thecontainer by operation of the valve as by depress- 8311?: g ing ortilting the actuator button. Limiting means re- 3:46l:876 8/1969Miller"; 24/255 s1. 5mm relative movement of the cooperable Portions3,484,023 12/1969 Meshberg 222/402.12 x of the locking means to PreventPel'manerlt deforma- 3,608,785 9/1971 Durso 222 402.13 Iion there0f- Abreakaway tab Pfevents disabling the 3,655,099 4/1972 Hazard 222/536 Xlocking means until the tab is removed. The actuator 3,655,100 4/1972Markowitz 222/182 assembly is shaped to conceal the locking means toPrimary ExaminerStanley H. Tollberg Assistant Examiner-Norman L. Stack,Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Kenyon & Kenyon Reilly Carr & Chapinfurther prevent accidental operation of the valve by children. Analternative embodiment is adapted for use on large diameter containers.

20 Claims, 29 Drawing Figures 1; 54 l \r g 55 5O PATENTELrnv 1 919743,848,778 sum 6 or s CHILDPROOF ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY This invention is animprovement to the sleeve-type, slotted housing and actuator buttondisclosed in my earlier US. Pat. No. 3,484,023 issued Dec. 16, 1969.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to the use of a sleeve-type, slotted housing and actuator buttonwhich together comprise an actuator assembly for mounting on and usewith a valved dispenser and to the method of operating the same. Moreparticularly the invention relates to a two-piece actuator assembly foruse in combination In my invention disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,9l4,222 Idisclosed (see FIG. 14) an aerosol package with a rotatable housinghaving a horizontal keyhole slot in one wall engaged by a fixed pinblocking the housing in the up position and preventing dispensing untilthe housing was turned to align an adjacent vertical slot with the pinwhereupon the housing could be depressed to dispense product. Idisclosed another, but similar, means in my US. Pat. No. 3,180,536 wherethe aerosol actuator is blocked in the up position by an actuator pinriding on a horizontal shoulder of the housing preventing dispensing(see FIG. 7) until the pin was rotated into alignment with an adjacentvertical recess in the housing whereupon the actuator could be depressedto dispense product. Additionally, Sagarin US. Pat. No. 3,050,219 and myUS. Pat. No. 3,484,023 disclose additional variants which use the sameprinciple, namely, an aerosol package whose actuator is blocked in theup position by a shoulder on a housing preventing dispensing until theblocked portion of the actuator is rotated free of the blockingshoulder. Thus, in all of the above disclosures, the blocking means isdefeated by simply rotating the actuator, a task which is easilyaccomplished by children.

Lipman US. Pat. No. 3,185,355 discloses a pumptype actuator assembly fornon-aerosol dispensers which uses a bayonet lug and slot arrangementemploying the same principle as the aforesaid aerosol actuators exceptthat the actuator is blocked in the down position rather than the upposition.

Another means for preventing accidental operation of an aerosol isdisclosed in Goldberg US. Pat. No. 3,249,260 which employs the standardaerosol actuator blocked in the up position by a shoulder on the housingpreventing dispensing. However Goldberg adds a bead and groove meanswhich forms a detent lock against accidental movement out of the lockedposition. Goldbergs tongue-in-cheek use of the term look was purposefulbecause, as Goldberg himself discloses,

his bead and groove only deters rotational movement of the actuator butdoes not prevent it. Again, nothing more than simple rotation ofGoldbergs actuator defeats the bead and groove lock means and unblocksthe actuator, a task easily accomplished by children. An aerosolactuator assembly similar to Goldbergs is also disclosed in Jordan etal. US. Pat. No. 3,608,791 showing the standard blocking means incombination with detent means to lock the actuator in the nondispensingposition but, as also in Goldberg above, which detent means is a merefrictional deterrence against rotation which is defeated by applicationof a slight rotational force.

Thus, none of the above prior art discloses a childproof actuatorassembly.

Applicant overcomes the deficiencies in the prior art by providing, notonly a shoulder blocking the actuator in the up position against axialor tilting movement, but also, a true locking mechanism which physicallyprevents (as distinguished from deters) rotational movement of theactuator until the locking mechanism is first disengaged by action otherthan simple rotation. The locking mechanism is also concealed so thatchildren cannot easily detect it. Thus applicant provides an actuatorassembly which is truly childproof and which can be used safely withcontainers holding dangerous or toxic fluids.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a two-piece actuatorassembly for valved containers, such as aerosol or pump-type dispensers,and the method of operating the same. A housing is secured to thecontainer, and an actuator is mounted in the housing in operableconnection with the valve and rotatable between non-dispensing anddispensing positions. When the actuator is in the nondispensingposition, blocking means prevents axial or tilting movement of theactuator and, further, cooperable portions of the housing and actuatorform a locking means preventing rotational movement of the actuator. Oneof the cooperable portions is movable radially (with respect to theactuator axis) between engaging and disengaging positions with respectto the other portion. Preferably the cooperable portions are a tongueand groove or similar means, one being carried by a flexible andresilient flap portion of the housing and the other being carried by theactuator. In the preferred mode, to rotate the actuator to thedispensing position the locking means must be first disabled by movingand holding the cooperable portions apart radially thereby disengagingthe tongue and groove while the actuator is rotated free of the blockingmeans. Product is dispensed by axially depressing or by tilting theactuator.

Preferably, the disabling of the locking means is done with one handwhile the rotation of the actuator free of the blocking means is donewith the other hand in a coordinated simultaneous motion.

The blocking means utilizes one or more portions of the actuatoroverriding one or more shoulders on the housing.

Limiting means is provided to restrict the radial movement of the flapto prevent permanent deformation thereof. This means may take such formsas a dogleg, a pin, or an extended skirt or other portion of the flapwhich abuts a housing portion after sufficient, but limited, radialmovement.

Means to conceal the locking features are also included. Both thepositive locking means and the concealing means combine to provide agenuine childproof assembly.

Additional features include a tamperproof tab, a removable dust cover, aone-handed re-locking feature and alternate embodiments for assemblieswith cylindrical or inclined walls and assemblies for use with widediameter containers.

It is an object of this invention to provide an actuator assembly foruse on aerosol and pump-type dispensers and other valved containerswhere the valve is operated by axial, tilting or rotational movement.

It is an object of this invention to provide a two-piece childproofactuator assembly that is positively locked in the non-dispensingposition and the actuator of which cannot be moved to the dispensingposition until the locking means is first physically disengaged by apositive action other than simple rotation, such as, by moving thelocking pieces radially apart relative to each other and holding them inthat position while the actuator is simultaneously rotated to thedispensing position.

It is an object of this invention to conceal the locking means fromuntrained eyes to make it more difficult for children to determine thatthere is a locking means preventing rotation out of the non-dispensingposition.

It is an object of this invention to provide, as one form of theinvention, a resilient flap operated locking means that requires the useof two hands simultaneously in coordinated movement in order to unlockthe actuator, and the use of only one hand in a simple easy motion torelock the actuator.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a tamperproofbreakaway tab which serves as a ready indication to the purchaser thatthe package has been tampered with, or may have been used.

It is an object of this invention to provide a limiting means to preventpermanent deformation to the locking mechanism by exceeding itsstructurallimits.

It is an object of this invention to provide a unique molded housingdesign that permits efiicient molding operations.

Additional objects are set forth in the following description of theinvention.

DESCRIPTION. OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the entirecombination of one form of the invention showing the actuator buttonlocked in the non-dispensing position. This embodiment has cylindricalsidewalls.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing thetamperproof tab being broken away and exposing the dog-leg embodiment ofthe limiting means.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing theflexible flap being moved radially outwardly until the dog leg limitsfurther movement and being held there with one hand while the actuatorbutton is simultaneously moved to the unlocked dispensing position byapplying a rotational force to the control member. The lip concealingthe tongue and groove is also shown.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the valved aerosol containerand the two-piece actuator assembly of the FIG. 1 embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing the actuatorbutton in the non-dispensing position with both the blocking means andlocking means engaged and the tamperproof tab intact.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5 but with the actuator button in thedispensing position with both the blocking means and locking meansdisengaged and with the tamperproof tab removed.

FIG. 7 is a partial vertical section of the invention shown in FIG. 5taken along the line 7-7 and clearly showing two blocking shoulders onthe housing preventing axial or tilting movement of the actuator.

FIG. 8 is a partial vertical section of the invention shown in FIG. 6taken along the line 88 and also showing in broken lines the actuatorbeing operated by being axially depressed to dispense product.

FIGS. 9, 10, 11 and 12 are perspective views of an alternate embodimentof the invention adapted for use on wide diameter containers. FIG. 12,especially shows the preferred two-handed operation required to move theactuator button from the locked to the unlocked position.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the entire combination showing analternate embodiment with the actuator in the non-dispensing position.In this form of the invention the walls are tapered and the lockingmeans is nicely concealed.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 13 with theactuator in the dispensing position.

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is a plan view of FIG. 13 showing a single shoulder blockingmeans- FIG. 17 is a partial vertical section of FIG. 16 along the linel7-17 showing the single shoulder blocking means, removable overcap,inclined walls and pin-type limiting means.

FIG. 18 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 16 showing theresilient flap being flexed radially outwardly to disengage the lockingmeans.

FIG. 19 is a plan view of FIG. 14 showing the actuator in the dispensingposition.

FIG. 20 is a partial vertical section of FIG. 19 taken along the line2020.

FIGS. 21 and 22 are partial sections showing the tongue and groovelocking means and pin-type limiting means of the embodiment of FIG. 13.

FIG. 23 is similar to FIG. 21 but showing an alternate embodiment of thelimiting means as an extended skirt of the flexible flap.

FIG. 24 is similar to FIG. 23 but showing an alternate embodiment of thelocking means when the housing and actuator have vertical walls.

FIG. 25 is a plan view of an alternate embodiment showing a multipleshoulder blocking means.

FIG. 26 is a partial vertical section of FIG. 25 along the line 26-26.

FIGS. 27 and 28 are plan views of an alternate embodiment showing theactuator in non-dispensing and dispensing positions respectively.

FIG. 29 is a partial vertical section of the embodiment of FIG. 28 takenalong the line 29-29 and showing in broken lines the actuator beingoperated by tiltmg.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 to 8 FIGS. 1 to 8 showone form of the present invention comprising a combination two-pieceactuator assembly with cylindrical walls and shown generally as 10 inFIG.

l for use with an aerosol container 11 having a conventional valveassembly shown generally as 12 in FIG. 4 secured to and sealing the topthereof. The actuator assembly comprises a sleeved, slotted housingshown generally as 20 in FIG. 4 and generally T-shaped actuator buttonshown generally as 50 in FIG. 4. The valve assembly includes aconventional valve for controlling the dispensing of the contents of thecontainer. The stem portion 13 of the valve protrudes through andextends above the valve assembly 12 of the'container 11. In thepreferred embodiment the container is pressurized with a propellant andcontains a material to be dispensed under fluid pressure. However, theinvention is also adaptable for use with hand operated, pump-typedispensers, or other valved containers.

The housing 20 is fixedly secured to the top of the aerosol container.The interior of the housing is provided with a central bore 14 (FIG. 4)and a plurality of notched ribs 15 (as best seen in FIG. 7) around itsinner circumference each of which provides a spacer portion 16 andshoulder portion 17 such that the housing snaps down over the rim 18 ofthe valve assembly and is thereby frictionally secured to the top of thecontainer with the shoulders 17 of the ribs 15 resting against the topof the rim 18 The housing is molded of any conventional thermoplasticmaterial.

The actuator button 50 is a generally T-shaped member which is mountedslidably within the central bore 14 of the housing and is also rotatablearound the common longitudinal vertical axis of the container 11 andhousing 20. The actuator button (as best seen in FIG. 7) is providedwith a central hub 51 which fits over the valve stem 13 protruding abovethe aerosol container. The hub 51 has an entrance orifice 52 and ashoulder means 53 for actuating the valve 13. The actuator button isalso provided with a discharge end 54 having a discharge orifice ornozzle 55 at one end and a control member 56 at the other end of the T.A passageway 57 through the hub of the actuator button connects valve 13and entrance orifice 52 with the discharge nozzle 55 for dispensing theproduct to the atmosphere. The control end 56 of the actuator button isa portion which projects slightly beyond the vertical wall 26 of thehousing 20 in such a manner that the operator can rotate the actuatorbutton between the locked and unlocked positions by simply applying ahorizontal, rotational or twisting force to the control member 56 torotate it about the longitudinal vertical axis of the actuator button.The control end of the actuator button is serrated 58 to provide anon-slip surface for applying the rotational force. The actuator buttonis molded of any conventional thermoplastic material. In the dischargeend of the actuator button 50 and to one side of the discharge nozzle 55is located a vertical groove or slot 59 which is designed to receive thetongue or key 27 of the flexible flap 23 of the housing to comprise alatch means for positively locking the actuator button 50 in the lockedposition as is more fully described below. The vertical edge 60 (FIG. 6)of the discharge end of the actuator button 50 on the other side of thedischarge nozzle 55 is rounded to cooperate with tongue 27 as more fullydescribed below.

The housing 20 has two slotted openings or recesses shown generally as21, 22 in FIG. 4. The slot 21 is on one side of the housing and coactswith the discharge end 54 of the actuator button 50. The other slot 22is on the other side of the housing and coacts with the control end 56of the actuator button. A flexible flap 23 extends circumferentiallyacross a portion of the slot 21. The flap 23 (best shown in FIG. 3) isattached at one end 24 and free at the other end 25 and is flexibleradially inwardly and outwardly with respect to the vertical axis of theactuator button and housing. Flap 23 is really an extension of the wall26 of the housing. Adjacent the free end 25 of the flap is a tongue orkey 27 which extends radially inwardly and is designed to be received bythe slot or groove 59 of the actuator button 50 in the locked position.At the lower end of the tongue 27 is limiting means, such as, a dog leg28 (best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3) which extends below the lower edge ofthe flap 23 and into the opening of the slot 21. The dog leg 28 acts asa limiting member such that when the operator places his fingernailagainst the end of the flap 23 and moves it radially outwardly (as bestseen in FIG. 3), the dog leg 28 abuts against the inside of wall 29 ofthe housing 20 preventing further outward movement and, thus, preventingthe operator from inadvertently permanently deforming, springing orsnapping off the flap 23 at its attached end 24 by exceeding the flexlimits of the flap. The flap 23 has natural resilience and will springback to its normal position when released for engagement with groove 59.The tongue 27 is located a short distance fromthe free end 25 of theflap so as to provide a ledge 30 (FIG. 6) against which the operator canplace his fingernail in order to move the flap radially outwardly. Theside wall surface 31 of the tongue 27 nearest the free end 25 of theflap is slanted toward the locked position in such a manner that it, incooperation with the rounded comer 60 of the actuator, gives minimumresistance to the movement of the actuator from the unlocked dispensingposition to the locked non-dispensing position.

A portion of the slot 22 is provided with a blocking shoulder portion 32(FIGS. 5 and 6) which acts as a blocking means preventing axial movementof the actuator button in the locked position. Also a second blockingshoulder may be provided at the discharge end of the actuator button asat 33 in FIGS. 6 and 7 further assuring against axial movement of theactuator. It is preferred that both blocking shoulders 32, 33 be used,although one shoulder is acceptable. Adjacent to blocking shoulder 32 ofslot 22 is a slot portion 34 (FIGS. 5 and 6) which is longitudinallyelongated so as to permit actuating the valve by axial movement of theactuator button.

The locked position shown in FIG. 5 is the nondispensing position and isdefined by the actuator button being rotated clockwise in the presentembodiment until it abuts against the edge 35 (FIG. 5) of the slot 21.In this position the locking means is engaged, i.e., the tongue 27 ofthe flap 23 is received by the groove 59 of the actuator button 50positively preventing rotational movement of the button and locking thebutton in this non-dispensing position. In this position the flexibleflap 23 covers the discharge nozzle. Also while in the locked positionthe discharge and control ends 54, 56 of the actuator button overridethe blocking shoulders 32, 33 of the housing preventing against axialmovement of the actuator button to operate the valve.

The unlocked position best shown in FIG. 6 is the dispensing positionand is defined by the actuator button being rotated counterclockwise inthe present embodiment until it abuts against the edge 36 of slot 21.Discharge nozzle 55 is unobstructed by the flexible flap 23 and theprojecting control end 56 of the actuator button 34 is verticallyaligned with the longitudinally elongated portion 34 of the slot 22. Inthis position actuator 50 has been rotated free of the blockingshoulders 32,

33. In this position an axially inward force applied by the operator tothe top of the actuator button (as best seen in FIG. 8) depresses theactuator button, operates the valve stem 13 and causes the pressurizedcontainer 11 to discharge its contents through the discharge passageway57 in the hub 51 and out the discharge nozzle 55 of the actuator button.When the operator releases the button, the valve is spring loaded toreturn to the up position closing the valve.

The actuator button cannot be rotated out of the locked position to theunlocked position by the operator until the locking mechanism is firstdisabled. As best shown in FIG. 3, this is done by the operator placinghis fingernail against the ledge 30 of the flexible flap 23 and movingthe flap radially outwardly until the dog leg 28 abuts against thevertical wall 29 of the housing. In this position the tongue 27 of theflap is disengaged from the groove 59 of the actuator button therebyunlocking the actuator and permitting it to be rotated counterclockwisefree of blocking shoulders 32, 33 to the unlocked dispensing position bythe operator applying a rotational force to the control end 56 of theactuator button. The actuator button can be easily returned from theunlocked to the normally engaged or locked position by a one-handedmotion of the operator by simply applying an opposite clockwiserotational force to the control end 56 of the actuator button. This easymovement is facilitated by the slanted edge 31 of the tongue 27cooperating with the rounded edge 60 of the actuator button. Theco-action of the slanted and rounded edges together with the radiallyoutward flexing motion of the flap 23 permits minimum resistance toreturning the actuator button to the locked position at which point,when the tongue and groove are aligned, and due to the naturalresilience of the flap, the tongue 27 automatically snaps into andengages the groove 59 of the actuator button in a self-locking action.

The actuator button is provided with a lip 61 (FIG. 4) which overhangsat least the groove 59 of the actuator button and the tongue 27 of theflap 23 when the locking means is engaged. Consequently, the lip 61conceals the tongue and groove locking mechanism so that it is notreadily apparent to the operator that the actuator button is locked andmust be first unlocked prior to use. The lip 61 optionally may alsoextend over the flap 23 further camouflaging the fact that 23 is a flapwhich is movable radially.

It is apparent that this mode of the invention preferably requires acoordinated and intentional movement to simultaneously release thelocking mechanism with one hand and twist the actuator button from thelocked to the unlocked position with the other hand before the contentsof the container can be dispensed by a further downward movement of theactuator button. That coordinated action together with the concealing ofthe locking means provide a combination actuator and sleeved housingwhich is truly childproof in that young children are incapable withoutassistance, of detecting the locking means and of making the coordinatedmovement necessary to unlock the actuator button for dispensing.

In the embodiment described the locked position is reached by clockwiserotation of the actuator button within the housing and the unlockedposition, by counterclockwise rotation. Obviously the design may bereversed so that the described positions are reversed without departingfrom the invention disclosed herein.

In the slot 21 of the housing between the free end 25 of the flexibleflap 23 and the adjacent wall 37 (FIGS. 4, 5) of the housing is locateda tamperproof tab 38 which is connected on one side to the flexible flap23 and on the other side to the adjacent wall 37 of the housing. Theconnections are by thin breakaway ribs 39, 40 respectively. This tab iseasily broken away by the consumer after purchase and prior to its firstuse by him (FIG. 2). If the tab 38 is broken prior to purchase, it is anindication to the consumer that the package has been tampered with orused. Further, so long as tab 38 is intact, it prevents relativemovement between the tongue and groove. Thus it prevents disabling orunlocking the latch mechanism until the tab 38 is removed.

The sleeved housing 20 has a stepped portion or horizontal ledge 41around its entire circumference. As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7 the flap23 is offset radially inwardly from the adjacent underlying housing wallportion 29. The purpose for this stepped design is to provide an openarea directly beneath the flexible flap 23. This design permits greaterefficiency and simplicity in the design of tooling which molds thehousing.

FIGS. 9 to 12 tainer 111 at rim 118. The actuator button is slidable androtatable within the central bore of the housing 120. The locking meanspreventing rotational movement of the actuator is the groove 159 carriedby the actuator button engaged by tongue 127 carried by the flexibleflap 123. With the actuator in the locked position, shoulder 132prevents axial movement of the actuator button. Axially elongated slot134 allows the actuator button to be depressed to dispense product. Inthis embodiment the control end 156 of the actuator button preferablydoes not (but it may, if desired) extend outwardly of the wall ofhousing 120, but is shorter and requires the operator to reach into slot122 with the finger of one hand to apply the rotational force to controlend 156 while the other hand is used to move the flap 123 radiallyoutwardly to unlock tongue 127 and groove 159 as shown clearly in FIG.12. The limiting means in this embodiment is enlarged portion of thehousing which serves as an abutment preventing radial outward movementof the flap 123 beyond the point of permanent deformation.

FIGS. 13 to 29 The embodiments shown in FIGS. 13 to 29 are similar tothe embodiments discussed above and for simplicity of description,corresponding numbers are assigned to corresponding parts.

Housing 220 is mounted on container 211. Actuator 250 is mounted inoperable connection with the valve stem 213 and is rotatable between anon-dispensing and dispensing position.

In the non-dispensing position blocking means prevent operation of thevalve. The blocking means comprises shoulder 232 (FIGS. 16-18) in asingle shoulder version or shoulders 332 and 333 (FIGS. 25, 26) or 432,433 (FIGS. 27, 28) in two shoulder versions. The blocking means preventoperation of the valve axially as in the version shown in FIGS. 25, 26or by tilting as in the version shown in FIGS. 27, 28.

Also in the non-dispensing position a locking means positively preventsrotational movement of the actuator (FIGS. 13, 16, 21, 25 and 27). Thelocking means comprises cooperable portions of the housing and actuator,one of which is radially movable between engaging and disengagingpositions with respect to the other. As seen in FIG. 14 and in explodedsection FIGS. 21 and 22 the cooperable portions are wedge or tongue 227carried by flexible flap 223 and groove 259 carried by actuator 250.When the cooperable portions 227, 259 are moved radially apart, such aswhen the flap 223 is moved radially outwardly and held in that positionas shown in FIGS. 18 and 22 the locking means is disabled and actuator250 can be rotated free of blocking shoulder 232 or 332, 333 or 432, 433to the dispensing position (FIGS. 14, 19, 28) for dispensing productfrom the container by axially depressing the valve stem 213 (FIG. 20) orby tilting the valve stem 413 (FIG. 29).

The particular cooperable portions forming the locking means can takevarious forms such as tongue and groove, bead and detent, wedge anddetent and the like. The cooperable portions can be interchanged betweenthe housing and the actuator. Further the portion of the locking meanswhich is moved radially to disengage it from the other portion, can beeither a housing portion or an actuator portion. That is, the flap 223can be either an extension of the housing wall 226 as shown or it couldbe made as a flexible flap portion of the actuator which must be movedto disengage it from a fixed cooperable portion of the housing. Further,flexible flap 223 and cooperable portions 227, 259 need not be locatedon the discharge side of the actuator assembly as shown, but rather, maybe located in the control end of the actuator assembly.

In the preferred mode, the actuator 250 is capable of being moved fromthe non-dispensing position (FIG. 17) to the dispensing position (FIG.19) only by the simultaneous coordinated action of disabling the lockingmeans while rotating the actuator free of the blocking means. Theinvention is not limited, however, to only two-handed or simultaneousoperations as the disabling step and rotating step could also besequentially performed with one hand.

The limiting means may take various forms as for example the pin 228extending below flap 223 and dei signed to coact with housing wall 229(clearly shown in FIGS. 14, 21, 22). An alternative mode includes anextended skirt 528 along the full length of flexible flap 523 anddesigned to coact with housing wall 529 (shown in FIG. 23).

The walls of the housing and actuator may be inclined as shown clearlyin FIGS. 13, 15, 21 or vertical as shown in FIG. 24. Inclined walls notonly give a modem, aesthetic, tapered appearance to the closureassembly, but also naturally conceals the tongue and groove lockingportions against detection. One untrained in operating the closureassembly, will have difficulty seeing the cooperable portions comprisingthe locking means unless he looks directly into the space between theinclined walls (see FIG. 21) and even then it is unlikely to bedetected. Similarly, FIG. 24 shows how well the tongue of the flap canbe concealed in the groove of the actuator even in the straight wallversion of the invention.

The tapered version of FIG. 13 also comes with a tamperproof tab 238 inthe slot 221 (FIG. 15) and connected by thin breakaway ribs 239, 240 toprevent relative movement between the cooperable portions 227, 259 untilthe tab is removed.

The actuator assembly of this invention is also provided with africtionally secured, removable dust cover 600 (FIG. 17) which keeps theassembly free from outside contamination during periods of non-use. Thedust cover 600 snaps onto a ridge 601 (FIGS. 13, 17) on the housing andis frictionally held thereon.

It is noted that the embodiment of FIGS. 13, 19, as in the embodiment ofFIG. 6, is designed for an easy one-handed motion in returning theactuator 250 from the unlocked to the locked position, the edge 231 ofthe tongue being slanted, the edge 260 of the actuator being rounded andthe flap 223 being resilient so that as the actuator is being rotatedtoward the locked position, flap 223 flexes outwardly and edge 231 ridespast edge 260 until the actuator is fully seated on the blockingshoulder 232 whereupon tongue 227 automatically snaps into and engagesgroove 259 (FIG. 16) locking the actuator against rotational movement.

I claim:

1. In combination with a container, v

a dispensing valve assembly secured to the container,

and

a actuator assembly including a housing member mounted on the container,

an actuator member mounted in the housing in operable connection withthe valve,

the actuator being rotatable about the longitudinal axis of thecontainer between a non-dispensing position and a dispensing position,

blocking means for preventing operation of the valve when the actuatoris in the non-dispensing position, and

means for deterring rotational movement of the actuator when theactuator is in the non-dispensing position,

wherein the improvement comprises:

A. the deterring means being a locking means for preventing rotationalmovement of the actuator when the actuator is in the non-dispensingposition, the locking means having cooperable portions one of which is aresilient flap portion of the housing member radially movable betweenengaging and disengaging positions with respect to the other,

whereby when the locking means is disabled by moving the one portion tothe disengaging position, the actuator can be rotated free of theblocking means to the dispensing position for dispensing product byoperating the actuator valve, and when rotated to the non-dispensingposition the resilience of said flap will cause said locking means toengage.

2. An actuator assembly for use in dispensing product from a valvedcontainer comprising:

A. an actuator button having l. a nozzle,

2. a control member,

3. a passageway for connecting the nozzle and the valve of thecontainer, and

B. a housing having 1. a central longitudinal bore,

2. a first slot, 3. a second slot, 4. a blocking portion and 5. a flaphaving a free end and an attached end a. the flap extending partiallyacross the first slot,

and b. the free end being flexible radially with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the housing, and

C. tongue and groove locking means located on cooperable portions of theflap and the actuator button,

D. the actuator button being mounted within the bore of the housing andbeing rotatable between 1. a first position defined by the tongue beingin the groove and the actuator button overriding the blocking portion ofthe housing for preventing accidental movement of the actuator buttonand 2. a second position being defined by the nozzle being aligned withthe unobstructed portion of the first slot and the control member beingaligned with the second slot for dispensing product from the containerwhereby to move the actuator from the first to the second position thelocking means must first be disabled.

3. The actuator assembly of claim 2 wherein the actuator button isrotatable from the first position to the second position only upon thesimultaneous release of the locking means by moving the flap radiallyoutwardly with one hand while a rotational force is applied to thecontrol member with the other hand.

4. The actuator assembly of claim 2 wherein the tongue is a flap portionand the groove is an actuator button portion.

5. The actuator assembly of claim 4 wherein the attached end of theflap'is located to the side of the nozzle toward the first position, thegroove of the actuator button is located to the side of the nozzle awayfrom the first position and the cooperating tongue is located adjacentthe free end of the flap.

6. The actuator assembly of claim 4 wherein the tongue is spaced a shortdistance from the free end of the flap to provide a ledge against whichthe operator may place his fingernail for moving the flap radiallyoutwardly to disengage the tongue from the groove.

7. The actuator assembly of claim 4 wherein the tongue is shaped with'the side wall away from the first position being slanted toward thefirst position and a cooperable comer of the actuator button locatedtoward the first position being rounded whereby the flexible flap, theslanted side wall and rounded comer coop erate to provide minimumresistance to the movement of the actuator button from the second to thefirst position which can be accomplished by the operator applying arotational force to the control member with one hand.

8. The actuator assembly of claim 2 wherein the control member extendsradially beyond the housing and is serrated to provide an easilyaccessible, non-slip surface for application of rotational forces.

9. The actuator assembly of claim 2 wherein the walls of the actuatorassembly are inclined and conceal the locking means.

10. The actuator assembly of claim 2 wherein the housing furthercomprises a breakaway tab connected by thin breakaway ribs to the freeend of the flap on one side and to the wall of the housing on the otherside preventing disabling the locking means until the breakaway tab isremoved.

11. In combination with a container,

a dispensing valve assembly secured to the container,

and

an actuator assembly including a housing mounted on the container, anactuator mounted in the housing in operable connection with the valve,

the actuator being rotatable about the longitudinal axis of thecontainer between a non-dispensing position and a dispensing position,blocking means for preventing operation of the valve when the actuatoris in the non-dispensing position, and

a means for deterring rotational movement of the actuator when theactuator is in the nondispensing position,

wherein the improvement comprises:

A. the deterring means being a locking mechanism for preventingrotational movement of the actuator when the actuator is in thenondispensing position, the locking mechanism having a flexible flapportion which is part of the housing movable between engaging anddisengaging positions with respect to the actuator, said flexible flapbeing resilient so as to snap into an engaging position when saidactuator is in a non-dispensing position wherebywhen the lockingmechanism is disabled by moving the flap to its disengaging position,the actuator can be rotated free of the blocking means to the dispensingposition for dispensing product by operating the actuator and valve.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein the locking mechanism furthercomprises cooperable wedge and groove portions of the actuator assembly,one of the cooperable portions being carried by a housing portion andthe other being carried by an actuator portion and wherein one of thecarrying portions is the flexible flap so that the locking mechanism isdisabled by flexing the flap to disengage the cooperable portions.

13. An actuator assembly adapted to dispense product from a valvedcontainer comprising A. a housing mounted on the container,

B. an actuator mounted in the housing in operable connection with thevalve, the actuator being rotatable about the longitudinal axis of thecontainer between a non-dispensing position and a dispensing position,

C. blocking means for preventing operation of the valve when theactuator is in the non-dispensing position,

D. tongue and groove locking means comprising cooperable portions of thehousing and actuator which together prevent rotational movement of theactuator when the actuator is in the non-dispensing position l. thetongue portion being a radially flexible flap housing portion movablebetween engaging and disengaging positions with the groove and actuatorportion, said flap being resilient so that when the cooperable portionsare aligned, the flap snaps the portions together in a self-lockingaction,

whereby when the tongue portion is moved radially apart from the grooveportion, the locking means is disabled and the actuator can be rotatedfree of the blocking means to the dispensing positionfor dispensingproduct from the container by operating the valve, and wherein theactuator is capable of being moved to a position to dispense productonly by the simultaneous action of disabling the locking means by movingthe cooperable portions apart radially while freeing the actuator fromthe blocking means by rotating the actuator.

14. The actuator assembly of claim 13 wherein the cooperable portionsare a wedge and detent.

15. The actuator assembly of claim 13 wherein the flexible flap is ahousing portion which is offset radially I inwardly from the adjacentunderlying portion of the housing and thereby overlies an open area ofthe housing.

16. The actuator assembly of claim 13 further comprising means forconcealing the cooperable portions in the engaged position.

17. The actuator assembly of claim 13 further comprising limiting meansfor preventing radial movement of the one portion beyond the point wherethe flexible flap is permanently deformed.

18. The actuator assembly of claim 17 wherein the limiting means is anextended portion of the flap for engaging a portion of the housing.

19. The actuator assembly of claim 13 further comprising the housinghaving a slot, and a breakaway tab in the slot and connected to theadjacent portions thereof by thin ribs to prevent relative movementbetween the cooperable portions until the tab is removed.

20. The actuator assembly of claim 19 further comtamination duringperiods of non-use.

1. In combination with a container, a dispensing valve assembly securedto the container, and a actuator assembly including a housing membermounted on the container, an actuator member mounted in the housing inoperable connection with the valve, the actuator being rotatable aboutthe longitudinal axis of the container between a non-dispensing positionand a dispensing position, blocking means for preventing operation ofthe valve when the actuator is in the non-dispensing position, and meansfor deterring rotational movement of the actuator when the actuator isin the non-dispensing position, wherein the improvement comprises: A.the deterring means being a locking means for preventing rotationalmovement of the actuator when the actuator is in the non-dispensingposition, the locking means having cooperable portions one of which is aresilient flap portion of the housing member radially movable betweenengaging and disengaging positions with respect to the other, wherebywhen the locking means is disabled by moving the one portion to thedisengaging position, the actuator can be rotated free of the blockingmeans to the dispensing position for dispensing product by operating theactuator valve, and when rotated to the non-dispensing position theresilience of said flap will cause said locking means to engage.
 2. Anactuator assembly for use in dispensing product from a valved containercomprising: A. an actuator button having
 2. a control member,
 2. a firstslot,
 2. a second position being defined by the nozzle being alignedwith the unobstructed portion of the first slot and the control memberbeing aligned with the second slot for dispensing product from thecontainer whereby to move the actuator from the first to the secondposition the locking means must first be disabled.
 3. The actuatorassembly of claim 2 wherein the actuator button is rotatable from thefirst position to the second position only upon the simultaneous releaseof the locking means by moving the flap radially outwardly with one handwhile a rotational force is applied to the control member with the otherhand.
 3. a second slot,
 3. a passageway for connecting the nozzle andthe valve of the container, and B. a housing having
 4. a blockingportion and
 4. The actuator assembly of claim 2 wherein the tongue is aflap portion and the groove is an actuator button portion.
 5. Theactuator assembly of claim 4 wherein the attached end of the flap islocated to the side of the nozzle toward the first position, the grooveof the actuator button is located to the side of the nozzle away fromthe first position and the cooperating tongue is located adjacent thefree end of the flap.
 5. a flap having a free end and an attached end a.the flap extending partially across the first slot, and b. the free endbeing flexible radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of thehousing, and C. tongue and groove locking means located on cooperableportions of the flap and the actuator button, D. the actuator buttonbeing mounted within the bore of the housing and being rotatable between6. The actuator assembly of claim 4 wherein the tongue is spaced a shortdistance from the free end of the flap to provide a ledge against whichthe operator may place his fingernail for moving the flap radiallyoutwardly to disengage the tongue from the groove.
 7. The actuatorassembly of claim 4 wherein the tongue is shaped with the side wall awayfrom the first position being slanted toward the first position and acooperable corner of the actuator button located toward the firstposition being rounded whereby the flexible flap, the slanted side walland rounded corner cooperate to provide minimum resistance to themovement of the actuator button from the second to the first positionwhich can be accomplished by the operator applying a rotational force tothe control member with one hand.
 8. The actuator assembly of claim 2wherein the control member extends radially beyond the housing and isserrated to provide an easily accessible, non-slip surface forapplication of rotational forces.
 9. The actuator assembly of claim 2wherein the walls of the actuator assembly are inclined and conceal thelocking means.
 10. The actuator assembly of claim 2 wherein the housingfurther comprises a breakaway tab connected by thin breakaway ribs tothe free end of the flap on one side and to the wall of the housing onthe other side preventing disabling the locking means until thebreakaway tab is removed.
 11. In combination with a container, adispensing valve assembly secured to the container, and an actuatorassembly including a housing mounted on the container, an actuatormounted in the housing in operable connection with the valve, theactuator being rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the containerbetween a non-dispensing position and a dispensing position, blockingmeans for preventing operation of the valve when the actuator is in thenon-dispensing position, and a means for deterring rotational movementof the actuator when the actuator is in the non-dispensing position,wherein the improvement comprises: A. the deterring means being alocking mechanism for preventing rotational movement of the actuatorwhen the actuator is in the non-dispensing position, the lockingmechanism having a flexible flap portion which is part of the housingmovable between engaging and disengaging positions with respect to theactuator, said flexible flap being resilient so as to snap into anengaging position when said actuator is in a non-dispensing positionwhereby when the locking mechanism is disabled by moving the flap to itsdisengaging position, the actuator can be rotated free of the blockingmeans to the dispensing position for dispensing product by operating theactuator and valve.
 12. The combination of claim 11 wherein the lockingmechanism further comprises cooperable wedge and groove portions of theactuator assembly, one of the cooperable portions being carried by ahousing portion and the other being carried by an actuator portion andwherein one of the carrying portions is the flexible flap so that thelocking mechanism is disabled by flexing the flap to disengage thecooperable portions.
 13. An actuator assembly adapted to dispenseproduct from a valved container comprising A. a housing mounted on thecontainer, B. an actuator mounted in the housing in operable connectionwith the valve, the actuator being rotatable about the longitudinal axisof the container between a non-dispensing position and a dispensingposition, C. blocking means for preventing operation of the valve whenthe actuator is in the non-dispensing position, D. tongue and groovelocking means comprising cooperable portions of the housing and actuatorwhich together prevent rotational movement of the actuator when theactuator is in the non-dispensing position
 14. The actuator assembly ofclaim 13 wherein the cooperable portions are a wedge and detent.
 15. Theactuator assembly of claim 13 wherein the flexible flap is a housingportion which is offset radially inwardly from the adjacent underlyingportion of the housing and thereby overlies an open area of the housing.16. The actuator assembly of claim 13 further comprising means forconcealing the cooperable portions in the engaged position.
 17. Theactuator assembly of claim 13 further comprising limiting means forpreventing radial movement of the one portion beyond the point where theflexible flap is permanently deformed.
 18. The actuator assembly ofclaim 17 wherein the limiting means is an extended portion of the flapfor engaging a portion of the housing.
 19. The actuator assembly ofclaim 13 further comprising the housing having a slot, and a breakawaytab in the slot and connected to the adjacent portions thereof by thinribs to prevent relative movement between the cooperable portions untilthe tab is removed.
 20. The actuator assembly of claim 19 furthercomprising a removable cover frictionally secured to the housing forkeeping the assembly free of outside contamination during periods ofnon-use.